Chapter 183: Hidden Arrows Hard to Defend

The news that the shadow warrior had been captured spread like wings, and by the next day it had reached the Steel Rolling Mill. Workers, in groups of three to five, discussed it, all saying the Security Department had scored another great achievement this time. But Li Ping'an knew in his heart that the processed voice on the telephone meant the real contest was only just beginning.

Chief, this was seized from Shanben Ichiro's residence. Wang Dahu entered the office carrying a wooden crate; inside were all sorts of oddly shaped tools. Damn, that bastard hid them well.

Li Ping'an picked up an object shaped like a fountain pen, gave it a gentle twist, and a cold beam shot from the tip—a miniature handgun. He set the pen down, then lifted a button, a listening device. These were all professional spy gear.

Should we conduct a full‑plant sweep?

Stirring the grass scares the snake. Li Ping'an shook his head: the Zhu Jiguān still wants to play, so we'll see them through to the end.

Just then, a clamor rose from outside the window. It turned out the canteen was serving an extra meal today, and workers were queuing for food. Sha Zhu, tied with a white apron, banged a big ladle loudly: "Everyone line up! Today we're having Red Braised Pork!"

Xu Damao approached the window carrying a lunchbox: "Sha Zhu, give me a bigger serving of meat!"

Hey, Xu Projectionist is also here for a meal? Sha Zhu scooped a ladle of meat, gave it a deliberate shake—didn't they say our cooks lack culture?

Xu Damao glared furiously.

Li Ping'an watched the familiar scene from upstairs, a slight smile curling his lips. These ordinary bustling moments were exactly what he was willing to die protecting.

In the afternoon, Li Ping'an made a point of touring each workshop. Workers greeted him warmly, but when he reached Workshop No. 3, he noticed a few newly hired workers averting their eyes.

New hires? he asked the workshop supervisor.

Yes, Deputy Factory Director Zhou… oh no, they were recruited by Shanben Ichiro. The supervisor lowered his voice: should we transfer them out?

No need. Li Ping'an gave the few a casual glance; since they came in through proper channels, let them work properly.

But his Divine Perception had already locked onto those individuals. One of them was short, with an old callus on his hand in a distinctive spot, a mark from long‑term gun use.

Back at the Security Department, he issued orders: "Dahu, focus surveillance on the new batch in Workshop No. 3, especially the one named Wang Lao Wu."

Chief, you suspect they're also spies?

Better to investigate wrongly than let them go.

The next few days the plant remained calm. Yet Li Ping'an knew beneath that tranquility currents were stirring. The mysterious telephone fell silent afterward, which only made him more vigilant.

It was a day off, and Li Ping'an was rarely at home accompanying his sister. Li Pingyue was embroidering in the courtyard; sunlight fell on her focused profile, making her look especially serene.

"Brother, how does this peony embroidery look?" she raised the embroidery hoop; the peony on it was vivid and dripping with beauty.

"Looks good." Li Ping'an praised sincerely, saying it was not inferior to your master's.

From the Central Courtyard, Jia Zhangshi's shout rang out: "Qin Huairu! Hurry up and cook, you want to starve me! All day you never know what you're doing!"

In the back courtyard, Liu Haizhong paced hands behind his back, saw Li Ping'an and said with a forced grin, "Ping'an, another achievement? Young people should know humility."

Li Ping'an was too lazy to respond, about to return indoors, when Yan Bu Gui came over again: "Ping'an, I heard the plant is still hiring? Ask Cheng…"

Third Elder, the Steel Rolling Mill was only recently expanded, how could there be recruitment, and I don't handle hiring anyway; find another path for Jie Cheng's job. Li Ping'an cut him off: I can't make the decision.

At that moment, Xu Damao pushed in on a bicycle, a fish hanging from the handlebars: "Sha Zhu! Two drinks tonight?"

Hey, the sun's coming out in the west? Sha Zhu poked his head out of the kitchen.

Watching these familiar scenes, Li Ping'an felt a taut string in his heart. He knew the Zhu Jiguān's retaliation could strike at any moment.

Sure enough, on Monday morning, Wang Dahu rushed in: "Chief, something happened! Someone broke into the archives last night!"

Li Ping'an hurried to the archives. The door lock was intact, but the innermost filing cabinet had been pried open.

What's missing?

Strangely, nothing was missing. Wang Dahu scratched his head, saying— the files had been rummaged through.

Li Ping'an examined the cabinet closely and found distinctive footprints in the corner, coated with soil.

Spies. he muttered.

The subsequent investigation hit a dead end. With so many employees, interrogating each was impossible; those footprints were the only clue.

Chief, should we report to the Public Security Bureau?

Wait a bit longer. Li Ping'an had a hunch this was just the beginning.

His hunch proved true quickly. Three days later, in the dead of night, the plant suffered a sudden blackout. Li Ping'an led a team to inspect the substation and found the distribution box deliberately sabotaged.

The method was highly professional. Wang Dahu shone a flashlight while checking, it wasn't the work of an amateur.

Just as they were making emergency repairs, an explosion rang out from the other side of the plant!

It's the finished‑goods warehouse! Li Ping'an's face changed.

When they arrived, thick smoke billowed, but the fire was minor. The blast site was in a corner, destroying only a few boxes of waste.

The thunder roared, the rain drizzled. Wang Dahu wondered, what's the point of this?

Li Ping'an's gaze hardened: "Lure the tiger away! Quickly back to the archives!"

When they rushed back to the archive building, they found a window on the second floor flung open. They burst into the archives and saw a black figure leaping out of the window.

Li Ping'an vaulted out of the window.

The black figure moved with agile grace, weaving left and right through the plant. Just as they were about to catch up, the person suddenly swung back—

Careful! Li Ping'an pushed the teammate behind him aside.

Several darts whizzed past his ear, embedding in the adjacent wall; their tips glowed blue, clearly poisoned.

What a ruthless tactic! Wang Dahu inhaled sharply.

With that brief delay, the black figure had already vaulted over the fence, vanishing into the night.

Back in the archives, Li Ping'an found another filing cabinet pried open. This time a document was missing—a set of design blueprints for a new steel‑rolling machine.

Chief, this is trouble now! Wang Dahu fidgeted anxiously, "These are classified blueprints!"

Li Ping'an remained calm: "The blueprints are fake."

What?

I'd long anticipated this move; the real blueprints are in the safety deposit box. Li Ping'an sneered, "Now, it's time for us to cast the net."

He had already laid a net covering heaven and earth. The spy who stole the fake blueprints would soon head out with them to meet his accomplices.

The next day, the Public Security Bureau reported: a grocery store in East City was smashed, three spies were captured, and a large cache of espionage equipment was seized.

Li Chief, your Lure the Snake Out of the Cave tactic is brilliant! Liu praised over the telephone.

But Li Ping'an could not feel happy. The communication records uncovered in the grocery shop showed that Zhu Jiguān has an even more hidden base in Four Nine City.

Their target is not only the Steel Rolling Mill. Li Ping'an told Wang Dahu, "Notify all team members, stay on high alert."

That night, after finishing overtime, Li Ping'an went home, and the moment he stepped into the Siheyuan he felt something was off—too quiet.

In the front courtyard the Yan Family had turned off the lights early, the central courtyard the Jia Family was also silent. Even the usually boisterous Xu Damao's house made no sound at all.

He hurried toward the back courtyard and pushed open his own house door—

Li Pingle sprang up, his voice tinged with crying, "Someone was spying from outside the window just now!"

Li Ping'an's heart tightened, and he immediately inspected the window, finding a clear shoe print on the sill.

Can you see clearly what it looks like?

No…none…Li Pingle's voice trembled, "I just saw a dark silhouette…"

That night, Li Ping'an did not close his eyes. He sat by the window, Divine Perception enveloping the entire Siheyuan. At three A. M., he indeed sensed a slight anomaly—a faint rustle on the roof of the front‑courtyard house.

Silently he climbed onto the roof and saw a dark figure perched on Yan Bu Gui's house roof, holding a Telescope.

"I've been waiting for you a long time," Li Ping'an said coldly.

The dark silhouette shivered all over, turned to run. Li Ping'an pounced like a leopard and subdued it in a few blows.

Speak! Who sent you?

The person clenched his teeth, about to bite a poison fang. Li Ping'an was prepared, grabbed his jaw and removed the poison fang.

Want to die? Not that easy.

The interrogation lasted until dawn. The spy explained that they were an assassination squad of Zhu Jiguān, tasked with eliminating Li Ping'an.

Why are you keeping your eyes on me?

You've caused us too many problems… the spy sneered miserably, Zhu Jiguān has never suffered such a loss.

That day, the Public Security Bureau, based on the spy's testimony, destroyed two more spy bases. Yet core members of Zhu Jiguān remained at large.

Director, it's settled now, right? Wang Dahu asked.

Li Ping'an looked out the window: just the calm before the storm.

His premonition came true again. Three days later, the Steel Rolling Mill received an important assignment—to produce special steel for the military industry. This is a political mission; no mistakes can be tolerated.

Attention everyone! Li Ping'an emphasized at the Security Department meeting that from today onward, we enter top‑level alert!

At that moment, the Telephone rang. That processed voice sounded again:

Li Ping'an, the game moves to the next level. This time, we will destroy your military industry under everyone's watchful eyes.

The Telephone was hung up, Li Ping'an clenched his fists. This time, Zhu Jiguān intends to make a big scene. And he must win this battle under the gaze of tens of thousands of eyes.

Outside, the roar of the steel‑rolling machines continued. Yet within that familiar sound, Li Ping'an detected a different danger.

This contest has already risen to a new height. And he has no choice but to fight.